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November 2012
Glenbrook South H.S. | Connections
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Glenbrook students score consistently high on state tests
According to the 2012 Illinois School Report Cards released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South students perform consistently well above average on state tests.
GBN students posted an average composite score of 25.9, while GBS students earned an average composite score of 24.3. The state average composite score is 20.6.
The 2012 Report Card lists the total enrollment
of the Glenbrook High
Schools as 4,748, which is 14 fewer students than
previous year.
The district's graduation rate of 95.6% is down 2.4%, resulting from a change in the required reporting implemented in 2010-11 under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). On average, 96-97% of Glenbrook graduates attend college.
NCLB sets annual targets for student achievement on the Illinois Prairie State Achievement Exams (PSAE). For 2012, 85% of all student subgroups are to meet or exceed standards on PSAE testing in order for the school to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The target level will rise by 7.5% each year, until the expectation level is 100% by 2014. NCLB specifically measures the progress of nine subgroups of students including the following: Racial/Ethnic Background, Limited English Proficient, Students with Disabilities and Economically Disadvantaged. Based on the performance of some subgroups, GBN, GBS, and the district did not meet AYP for 2012. View 2012 Illinois School Report Cards.
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Calendar Highlights
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November
1 - Fall Choral Concert, 7:30 p.m.
2 Gym Jam 1, 7 p.m.
5 Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @ GBS
Band-O-Rama Concert, 7:30 p.m.
5-20 Canned Food Drive
7 PLAN Testing for all Sophomores, 7:45 a.m.
Student Late Arrival,
10 a.m.
8 Parent Conference Night, 6:30 p.m.
10 Code of Conduct Mtg.,
9 a.m.
IMEA District Festival @GBN
11 Veteran's Day
14 Parent Conference Night, 6:30 p.m.
15 Student Late Arrival,
10 a.m.
15-16 Comedy Sportz, 4 and 7:30 p.m.
17 IMEA Jazz Festival, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. @ Lake Zurich
17-18 Glenbrook Debate Tournament
18 GSO Concert, 3:30 p.m. @ GBS
21-25 Thanksgiving Break
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Winter weather school closing procedures
The decision to cancel school is made by the District Superintendent and is usually due to severe or extreme wind chills, snow accumulation or unsafe road conditions.
The goal is to notify families of school cancellations as early as possible, usually by 6 a.m. Parents can expect to be contacted by the District via an automated phone and email system. (NOTE: Now is a great time to contact your school registrar to make sure that your contact information is up-to-date.)
Information will also be sent out through both schools' Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Additionally, parents can obtain school closing information on the District ( www.glenbrook225.org) and school's website (GBS www.glenbrook225.org/south), the WGN Emergency Closing Center (www.emergencyclosings.com), and local radio or TV news channels.
The District has built two emergency days into the calendar on Monday, January 14 and Monday, April 1. If no emergency days are used prior to January 14, then there will be no school on that date. However, if an emergency day is needed prior to that date, then school will be in session on January 14. If no emergency days are used between January 15 and April 1, then there will be no school on April 1. If an emergency day is needed during that time, then school will be in session on April 1.. This calendar feature minimizes the need to add emergency days to the end of the school year in June.
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Glenbrook South hosts GBS Connects
Glenbrook South will host the first-ever GBS Connects Day.
GBS Connects will take place in the classrooms of Glenbrook South on Wednesday, December 12. Guest speakers will share their personal stories about their career paths. GBS Connects seeks to help students see the connection between what they are learning in their classrooms and careers/professions. Students will attend a variety of sessions that will be about 45 minutes in length and vary between professional panels and single classroom presentations. GBS Connects will begin at 10 a.m. and run until about 3 p.m. Click here to view the brochure highlighting the various career options.
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College information for seniors
Teacher/Counselor Recommendations and Transcript Request Forms: Students requesting letters of recommendation from teachers or counselors and turning in Transcript Request Forms need to give a minimum of two weeks notice to allow sufficient time for processing. Requests and paperwork for December 1 deadlines must be submitted by November 15. Because school closes for winter break after Friday, December 21, requests and paperwork for colleges with January 1 deadlines must be submitted by December 7.
Income Tax Forms & Financial Aid: Parents of seniors applying for financial aid should prepare their income tax forms early to facilitate completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1, 2013, and any other financial aid forms requested by the college. The FAFSA is now requesting that applications be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Most colleges will accept estimated tax information on the financial forms and will verify later. Financial aid is given out on a first come, first served basis, so be aware of financial aid deadlines and apply early.
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Four students earn perfect marks on ACT
Four students from Glenbrook South have earned perfect scores on the ACT, a 215 multiple-choice test that is administered every year in the United States and U.S. territories.
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Glenbrook South Principal Dr. Brian Wegley congratulates Steven Kim on his perfect ACT score with a special GBS pin.
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These students include Brandon Loebbaka, Steven Kim, Matthew Park and Dina Peck.
The ACT is required by all the state schools in Illinois and accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States. Juniors are advised to take the ACT in February, April or June. ACT scores range from 1-36.
"The perfect score was something I had always wanted but never really expected. It was the carrot at the end of the stick, so even though I was constantly striving for it, it seemed unattainable. Despite that, I kept it in my sights," Loebbaka said.
All four of the students worked hard at earning the perfect score, which on average less than one-tenth of one percent of all test takers earn, according to the ACT.
Practice tests, review books and prep classes were all part of their preparation. Having confidence in your abilities and keeping the end goal in mind is also an important element to scoring well, Park said.
"I don't think you can go into anything expecting anything but the best," he said. "However, if you do not reach your goal, it's important to get over it quickly. All you can do is go all out, win or lose. That applies to everything. Not just the ACTs."
For more on the ACT, click here.
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Mock election gives students a voice
Many students at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South may not be of legal voting age, but a mock election held earlier this month gave them a chance to have a voice in the November races. In conjunction with the League of Women Voters, the mock election took place on Oct. 4-5 at GBN and Oct. 8 at GBS and included a true-to-form ballot and polling place.
Throughout the school day, students could vote for their favored presidential candidate and several local, state and federal races. They could also vote on a referendum that, if approved, would restrict the amount of campaign donations given to candidates.
More than *7,500 votes were cast at GBN over the two-day period and more than *5,400 at GBS (combined totals for all the races).
"If students decide to register to vote when they are 18, this gives them an idea of how that process works. It is also important for us to know how our government works, and we are able to do that by participating in the mock election," said GBN Sophomore Eduardo Toubol. Allie Kahan, a senior at GBS, also said the mock election gave students the chance to have real, educated opinions about the November election. "I think that even if you are not able to vote, which applies to most high school students, it is important to know about out country's issues. This was our chance to have voice," she said. For more on the mock election, click here .
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Each month, this section will feature a different article that ran in Glenbrook South's student-run newspaper The Oracle, and, occasionally, other student-produced work.A new edition of The Oracle is distributed approximately every five weeks and can be found in newsstands throughout the school. It is also mailed to all Parents' Association members. This month's article is written by Staff Writer Grace Abiera.
First-time student voters
As the presidential election draws near, many seniors are able to tap into the real world by voting for the first time. Senior Maggie Condon is one of them.
"I know that I am just one person in the country, but I'm hoping that my vote can make a difference in achieving what's best for our nation," Condon said. 
Likewise, senior Will Kozloski is glad he is eligible to vote in this election.
"I would be a little upset if I was born after the cut-off date just because it's a cool opportunity to be a part of an election like this as a senior," Kozloski said.
Senior Katherine Loiselle claims she feels extremely privileged to be a part of this voting process.
"The fact that I can be part of something that other countries are currently fighting over the right to do so easily helps keep me to stay grounded and aware of what reality really is," Loiselle said.
For more on first-time student voters, click here.
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Federal funding available to students of military personnel
Due to the recent extension of a federal Impact Aid bill, Glenbrook High School District 225 is eligible to receive additional federal funding. The bill will provide federal funding to school districts that provide education to the children of military personnel as well as to other "federally supported students" who attend either Glenbrook North or Glenbrook South High Schools.
In order to receive this funding, parents/guardians are asked to verify their high school student falls into the category of "federally supported students" by completing a survey and returning it to Vicki Tarver by December 1.
Some examples include:
Child resides with a parent who works on federal property. Child resides with a parent employed by the federal government. Child has a parent who is active (or reserve) duty in the uniformed military service. Child resides in federally subsidized housing. Child resides on federal property with a parent employed on federal property situated in whole or in part within the boundaries of the school district.
A copy of the survey can be found by clicking here. Anyone with questions may call Vicki Tarver at 847-486-4591.
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Research shows that laughter decreases stress. Save the date for a stress-free evening at Glenview/Northbrook Youth Services' Stand Up for Youth - A Night of Comedy Featuring Henry Cho at 7 p.m. on November 16. There will be food, drinks, a silent auction, and most importantly...laughter! For more information, click here.
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